Indiana debt statute of limitations is the answer to “statute of limitations on debt in Indiana”. This guide gives the Indiana figures in a dated table, explains in plain words what they mean, walks through the steps, and points to the official forms and free help.
The Indiana debt statute of limitations figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Indiana sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Indiana debt statute of limitations at a Glance
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral agreement | 6 years |
| Promissory note | 6 years |
| Open account / credit card | 6 years |
| Medical debt | no separate period — the ordinary contract periods above apply |
In This Indiana debt statute of limitations Guide:
What the Indiana Debt Statute of Limitations Means
In Indiana, the statute of limitations is a deadline for a creditor or collector to file a lawsuit. It does not erase the debt. The debt can still exist and a collector can still ask for payment. Indiana treats the time limit as an affirmative defense under Trial Rule 8(C), so in most cases a court applies it only if the person being sued raises it.
The Indiana debt statute of limitations Figures
| Rule | Bonus Bank Daily verified figure |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Oral agreement | 6 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Promissory note | 6 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Open account / credit card | 6 yearscompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Medical debt | no separate period — the ordinary contract periods above applycompilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
| Statute | IC 34-11-2-9(b), 34-11-2-7(1), 26-1-3.1-118(a)compilation / agency — verified Oct 2026 |
The Indiana debt statute of limitations figures on this page were verified against a dated 50-state compilation and Indiana sources as of October 2026; the statute named here is where to check them yourself.
Being sued over an old debt?
The time limit is a defense only if you raise it in your answer. An Indiana debt defense attorney can check the dates, often at no cost for the first call. Every state bar runs a lawyer-referral service that sets up a low-cost first consultation; legal aid represents many people in debt cases at no cost.
When the Indiana Debt Statute of Limitations Starts
In most cases the clock starts when the cause of action “accrues.” That is usually the date of default, when a required payment was missed and not made up. For credit card and open accounts, Indiana courts generally count from when the account became due, which is often tied to the last payment made before default. Confirm the exact accrual date with the court clerk or an attorney.
Can the Indiana Debt Statute of Limitations Restart?
Under IC 34-11-9-1, a written acknowledgment of the debt or a new promise to pay, signed by the debtor, can restart the clock. Indiana case law has also treated a voluntary partial payment as an implied new promise that can revive the period. Even a small payment on an old debt may give a collector a fresh window to sue.
Old Debts and the Indiana Debt Statute of Limitations
If you are contacted about an old debt, you may ask the collector in writing for validation within the period stated in the first notice. In most cases, people check the dates and the paperwork before admitting the debt or sending money. Federal Regulation F (12 CFR 1006.26) bars debt collectors from suing or threatening to sue on a time-barred debt.
The Indiana Debt Statute of Limitations and Your Credit Report
These are two separate clocks. Indiana’s limit controls how long a creditor has to sue. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act separately lets most negative accounts stay on a credit report for about 7 years from the original delinquency. A debt can drop off a report and still be within the lawsuit period, or the reverse.
If You Are Sued on a Debt Past the Indiana Statute of Limitations
In most cases the defendant answers by the date on the summons and raises the statute of limitations as a defense. That can be a written answer in a plenary civil case, or a statement at the hearing in small claims. The defendant generally also appears at every scheduled hearing, because missing one can lead to a default judgment.
Indiana Legal Help and the court’s self-service center offer forms and guidance.
Common Mistakes With Indiana debt statute of limitations
The most common mistake is missing a deadline: court and creditor deadlines run whether or not you have read the papers, and a missed one usually cannot be undone. The second is relying on an old article or a friend’s experience in another state — the rules on this page differ from state to state and change often, which is why every figure here is dated.
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The third is not keeping copies: every letter, form, receipt and bank statement may matter later, so keep them together and note the date you received each one.
Free Help With Indiana debt statute of limitations in Indiana
You do not have to handle this alone or pay to get answers. The Indiana court self-help center explains the forms and the steps, and court clerks can tell you where and how to file, although they cannot give legal advice.
Legal aid organizations represent many people at no cost when income is limited, and the Indiana bar’s lawyer referral service can connect you with a lawyer for a low-cost first consultation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about lenders, banks and debt collectors nationwide.
How We Verify the Indiana debt statute of limitations Figures
Every figure in the table above comes from our 50-state data file, built by reading the Indiana statute or an official compilation of it, and each one carries the month we last checked it. Our writers do not change those figures; they explain them. When the law changes, the figure is updated and the date moves.
If something on this page no longer matches the statute, the statute controls — and we want to hear about it.
In Indiana, a court judgment lasts much longer than the original debt’s limit. Under IC 34-11-2-12, a judgment can be enforced for 20 years, so an old debt that becomes a judgment can be collected for far longer. Small claims cases are capped at $10,000 for cases filed on or after July 1, 2021.
Next rung: the Indiana debt lawsuit page explains the answer deadline if a collector sues.
Indiana — the bottom line
- The Indiana debt statute of limitations limits lawsuits, not the debt itself; the year counts by type of debt are in the table above.
- A payment or a written promise can restart the Indiana debt statute of limitations clock in some states — check the table before paying an old debt.
- If you are sued after the Indiana debt statute of limitations has run, you must raise it in your answer; the court will not raise it for you.
Indiana Debt Statute of Limitations FAQ
What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Indiana?
6 years for an open account such as a credit card.
What is the time limit on a written contract debt in Indiana?
6 years.
Official Indiana Sources & Resources
- Statute and a 50-state chart with statute and court citations (Alper Law, Aug 2026) — limitation of actions on debts: https://www.alperlaw.com/asset-protection/statute-of-limitations-on-debt/
- Indiana statute / opinion: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2025/ic/titles/34
- Indiana Judicial Branch – Self-Service Legal Center: https://www.in.gov/courts/selfservice/
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
- CFPB — Debt collection: know your rights: consumerfinance.gov
This Indiana debt statute of limitations guide was last verified against official Indiana sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current rule with the statute or a licensed attorney.
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Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Bonus Bank Daily is an independent educational resource — not a law firm, not a bank, not a debt collector and not a government agency. Judgment, levy, interest-rate and debt rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it.
Confirm the current rule with the statute, the court clerk or a licensed attorney in your state before you act.